The 1946-47 season match programmes included a series of twenty guest articles in a series entitled 'A Peep in my Diary'. They are fascinating snapshots of the past.

Whilst an almost complete index to the series appears at the foot of this article, the text of each 'Peep in my Diary' will appear against the relevant player entry in the 'Players' section of our History site.

However, three of the articles were by persons who had never played for Newport RFC, but nevertheless were meritorious of inclusion in the series.

No.4 in the series appeared in the match programme for Newport v Cardiff in October 1946 and was written by W. J. T. Collins or "Dromio" as he was known. His work is referred to liberally throughout this site due to his work for the South Wales Argus, his editing of the 'History of Newport Athletic Club 1875 to 1925' upon which there is a separate article, and his book 'Rugby Recollections' published firstly in 1948.

No.15 published for the Newport v Cardiff game in February 1947 was by Wilfred Wooler. Born 20th November 1917 in Rhos-on-Sea, Denbighshire. Perhaps better known to some as a cricketer for Glamorgan, and a cricket commentator for BBC Wales coverage of Glamorgan in the latter half of the twentieth century, he was an accomplished rugby player for Rydal School, Sale, Cambridge University and, of course, Cardiff. He gained 18 Welsh caps between 1933 and 1939 and played for the Barbarians. Spending much of World War II in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp, the impact of which on his health led to him giving up rugby, he became captain of Glamorgan in 1947 and a Test selector between 1955 and 1962. Always outspoken, he died in Cardiff 10th March 1977.

No.18 is by Captain Geoffrey Crawshay and was published in the match programme for the London Welsh game at Easter 1947. Descendent of the Merthyr ironmasters, he founded his own rugby team 'Crawshay's XV' in the belief that the game was for men of all classes and established a West Country tour for his team in 1922 that was to continue for over 50 years.

All three of these interesting 'peeps into diaries' are reproduced in numerical order together with an acknowledgement to series contributors, published in the Barbarians game programme on Easter Tuesday 1947, as a preamble.

"To Mr. Harry Uzzell we should perhaps express special thanks, as this gentleman not only undertook the task of making the first contribution at, we may say, very short notice, but also suggested the title for the series, which was adopted. And the co-operation of all who have written has been most heartening indeed. One and all showed the greatest readiness to give their services when the request was made of them, spontaneously and in the interests of the club, and we do believe they have provided matter and memories of the widest interest, covering as they have some fifty years of Rugby football in Newport. In the belief that old vintage is the more palatable, we have not, with only one exception, approached "Diarists" beyond the early twenties. (The Diaries of the more modern generation of players will have their place with future recorders.)"

"Anyway, it has heen the greatest pleasure to publish the memories of such a rich band of great personalities in the game, and if there has been one noteworthy feature common to most writers it has been the stress laid on the great influence for good of the Newport Athletic Club, and they have been mindful indeed of the source and inspiration of the opportunities that were theirs."

"And while paying acknowledgments we should also like to record our sincere appreciation to the "South Wales Argus" for their very ready assistance in putting at our disposal playing records, etc., of Newport's matches through the years. They have been of immense Value in the compilation of the programmes week by week."

"No, 4.- W. J. T. COLLINS ("Dromio")."

"Newport v. Cardiff in 1892."

"On November 22nd, 1892, I saw and reported my first Newport-Cardiff match, and so opened that new chapter in my life in which is written a record of happy and still unbroken association with Newport Rugby football. Newport, invincible in 1891-2, had won their first nine games with only 1 try scored against them. They had drafted into the team F. W. Cooper, of Abergavenny, afterwards English even-time sprint champion, who had been playing for the Seconds; Harry Packer, recovered from injury which kept him out of the Invincible XV., was in the pack; for the rest they had the tried players af the previous season (nine of whom afterwards played for Wales against Scotland at Edinburgh)."

"What a game it was! Arthur Gould dodged over for the first try; Cooper dodged the opposing wing, jumped over the full-back's arms, and scored the second; Dauncey raced in for the third after passing. England converted the first and third, and Newport led at half-time by 13 points. Such a brief record may give the impression that there was "only one side in it." In reality, Cardiff, captained by T. W. Pearson, were always potentially dangerous. Great dribbling by the Newport forwards gave Graham an unconverted try. Then "one wild cheer went up as it was seen that Arthur Gould had possession a little over the halfway line, and was careering away in his best style. Breaking past the opposing backs, he galloped on, dodged E. P. Biggs at full speed, and placed the ball over the line." (Only those who saw Arthur Gould in his prime know how wonderful and how popular he was). To close the scoring the forwards had another turn - this time a handling attack in which Henshaw scored from Packer's pass. England converted these last two tries, so Newport won by 4 goals 2 tries to nil. That was my memorable first Newport-Cardiff game."

"On the following "Wednesday Newport beat Oxford University at Oxford by 4 goals 3 tries to nil, Harry Packer held (and I agree) that these two matches marked the highest level Newport Rugby football ever attained. The same opinion is held by H. Percy Phillips, one of the halves of that great day, like T. W. Pearson still happily with us."

"No. 15.- WILFRED WOOLLER"

"(Former Cardiff and Welsh International Three-quarter)."

"My first experience of the Newport ground and Club came with the "BA BA's" in 1935 in a team mainly comprised of the usual Barbarian profundity of Internationals. It was the regular Easier Tuesday fixture and the crowd was holiday in spirit and size. Youthful and naive, having played my Rugby mainly in the North, it was a surprise to find our side of giants scrambling hard in the latter stages to hold on to a slender lead. We managed it, but certain members of the "bob" bank left us in no doubt as to the luck which assisted our efforts."

"Since those early days broader experience has taught me the strength of this side which, under Jack Wetter, once went through a season in Welsh football undefeated. I write Welsh football because beyond question, in travels throughout England, Scotland and Ireland there is no club football comparable in skill and power to that played by the leading Welsh clubs."

"Some of the Cardiff-Newport duels will live long in my memory from the first time when, with Cliff Jones - that dancing Will-of-the-Wisp - I turned out for Cardiff at Rodney Parade. It was in the 1936-37 season, and some of his electrifying runs startled everyone into admiration. Then came that game in the mud at the Arms Park in 1939, when Newport tried to emulate a record achieved by Cardiff - but yet to be brought off by Newport - that of winning all four games.* We drew that game nil all, Les Spence, the popular Cardiff captain, being unable to recollect the closing minutes of that hard-fought game, being mildly incapacitated. "Bunner" Travers, acknowledged in South Africa as the greatest hooking forward they had met, still pulls his leg about it."

"It was many years ago when your supporter-in-chief, the inimitable, enthusiastic and portly Joe Warwick and I had a bet of a beer on each Cardiff-Newport match. Long may it stand!"

* in the published article the Newport and Cardiff names in the preceding sentence have mysteriously been juxtaposed incorrectly implying that Newport have beaten Cardiff four times in a season!

"No. 18. - CAPTAIN GEOFFREY CRAWSHAY."

"Rugby players have one thing, at least in common with distinguished Welsh preachers: their names are usually associated with a club as are the latter with their place of birth or ministry.

"One almost mistrusts a player who has flit from club to club without becoming closely identified with any one though the reason be entirely outside his control."

"It so happens that though I was born in Wales and have a home in the Principality, my name in the Rugby world is always associated with the London Welsh. It is most appropriate, therefore, that I have been asked to "peep in my diary" on the occasion of Newport's home fixture with the club with which I have been connected for 25 years as president and more recently as patron in succession to the late Earl Lloyd George."

"In case others have kept a diary, let me confess at once that I have never played for the Welsh. At one time when Rugger was not the least important of one's duties as a soldier, my enthusiasm for the game was such that I was often asked, "When did you play for Wales?" An embarrassing question though asked in all innocence. I used to explain that for me the war put an end to serious Rugger, and I endeavoured to convey the impression that had I not lost the use of an arm, only the hereditary stupidity of the Big Five could have prevented my being capped!"

"I did not, however, give up playing altogether, and on being posted to the Guards Depot started a side which I captained and selected myself to be certain of keeping my place! The XV. usually consisted of 12 Guardsmen and two other Officers, "Boy" Browning (now General F. A. M. Browning, C.B., D.S.O,, etc., of Paratroop and Burma fame), and the Chaplain, the Rev. J. A. James, a Welshman and some time curate of Llangibby."

"About half of the XV. had not played Rugger before, and what we lacked in skill we made up for in enthusiasm."

"To protect my shoulder and arm, I invented an arrangement like the inner tube of a bicycle which could be inflated. Nevertheless, it was a constant source of surprise to all, and not least to myself, that in some pretty tough games I was never seriously injured."

"It was some years later that I learnt the reason from a former opponent who was a guest on King's Guard when tongues are loosened. As the visiting side took the field, 12 large, and tough Guardsmen sidled up to them and through clenched teeth muttered, "You see that player with the padded shoulder; he's our Officer, and if you touch him we will b--- well kill you!"